Native vs Cross-Platform: Quick Comparison
| Factor | Native | Cross-Platform |
|---|---|---|
| Development Cost | Higher (2x codebases for iOS + Android) | 30-40% lower (single codebase) |
| Time to Market | Longer (parallel or sequential development) | Faster (ship to both platforms at once) |
| Performance | Best possible performance | Near-native (excellent for most apps) |
| Platform Features | Full access on day one | 95%+ features via plugins |
| UI/UX | Platform-specific look and feel | Consistent or adaptive UI |
| Maintenance | 2 codebases to maintain | 1 codebase to maintain |
| Team Size | Need iOS + Android specialists | Single team handles both |
| Best For | Games, AR/VR, performance-critical apps | Business apps, MVPs, startups |
What is Native App Development?
Native app development means building separate apps for each platform using platform-specific languages and tools:
iOS Native
- Languages: Swift, Objective-C
- IDE: Xcode
- UI Framework: SwiftUI, UIKit
- Full access to iOS APIs
Android Native
- Languages: Kotlin, Java
- IDE: Android Studio
- UI Framework: Jetpack Compose, XML
- Full access to Android APIs
What is Cross-Platform Development?
Cross-platform development means building one app that runs on multiple platforms using frameworks like:
Flutter
- Language: Dart
- By Google
- Own rendering engine
- Excellent performance
- iOS, Android, Web, Desktop
React Native
- Language: JavaScript/TypeScript
- By Meta (Facebook)
- Native UI components
- Large community
- iOS, Android
When to Choose Native Development
Native development is the better choice when:
- Performance is critical: 3D games, AR/VR, video processing
- Heavy hardware integration: IoT, Bluetooth, complex sensors
- Platform-specific UX is essential: Apps that must feel native
- You only need one platform: iOS-only or Android-only app
- Using latest platform features: Need new APIs on day one
- Large enterprise with dedicated teams: Separate iOS and Android teams
Examples: Pokemon GO, Fortnite, banking apps with complex security, camera/photo editing apps
When to Choose Cross-Platform Development
Cross-platform is the better choice when:
- Budget is limited: Get both platforms for lower cost
- Speed matters: Launch on iOS and Android simultaneously
- Building an MVP: Validate your idea quickly
- Business/productivity app: Standard UI interactions
- Small team: One team builds and maintains both platforms
- Consistent experience needed: Same look on both platforms
Examples: Uber Eats, Google Pay, Alibaba, BMW, Discord, Shopify
Cost Comparison
Here is a rough cost comparison for a medium-complexity app in India:
| Approach | Development Cost | Maintenance/Year |
|---|---|---|
| Native iOS Only | ₹8-20 Lakhs | ₹2-4 Lakhs |
| Native Android Only | ₹7-18 Lakhs | ₹2-4 Lakhs |
| Native iOS + Android | ₹15-38 Lakhs | ₹4-8 Lakhs |
| Cross-Platform (Both) | ₹10-25 Lakhs | ₹2-5 Lakhs |
Note: Costs vary based on complexity, features, and team rates. Cross-platform typically saves 30-40% compared to building separate native apps.
Our Recommendation
For most businesses, we recommend starting with cross-platform development:
- Startups: Use Flutter or React Native for your MVP
- SMBs: Cross-platform covers 90%+ of use cases
- Enterprise: Evaluate based on specific requirements
- Games/AR: Go native for best results
Need Help Deciding?
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